1.
helper; reinforcement; extra hand
A person who comes to help, especially someone brought in from outside to assist with a task, event, or team that is short-handed. Has a casual, friendly tone.
引っ越しの助っ人を頼んだ。
I asked for help with the move.
人手が足りないから、助っ人を呼ぼう。
We're short-handed, so let's call for backup.
友達が助っ人として来てくれたおかげで、作業が早く終わった。
Thanks to a friend coming as an extra hand, the work finished quickly.
2.
foreign player; hired talent (in sports)
In sports, particularly baseball, refers to a foreign player recruited to strengthen a team. Can carry a nuance of someone brought in specifically for their skill.
チームの助っ人として活躍した。
He played an active role as a reinforcement for the team.
新しい助っ人が期待どおりの成績を残した。
The new foreign player delivered the results everyone hoped for.
あのチームは毎年強力な助っ人を獲得している。
That team acquires powerful foreign players every year.
A casual, colloquial word for someone brought in to help. The word likely derives from 助 (help) with the suffix っ人 (person), though the exact etymology is debated.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 助っ人を頼む: to ask for help
- 助っ人を呼ぶ: to call for backup
- 助っ人として参加する: to join as a helper
- 強力な助っ人: a powerful reinforcement
USAGE:
In everyday life, used warmly to refer to someone helping out at events, with moving, or at busy workplaces. In sports journalism, the term is standard for foreign players, especially in baseball.